TI signed its first PowerVR MBX licence in April 2003, partnering with the graphics core's UK-based developer, Imagination Technologies. The results of the deal were announced less than a year later, in February 2004, when TI unveiled its OMAP 2 processor core, which incorporates the PowerVR technology.

A year on, and TI wants to develop further mobile OMAP 2 family members which it also plans to add PowerVR MBX Lite to. The Lite version is pitched at battery-powered machines like phones, PDAs and handheld consoles, whereas the regular MBX core is intended for systems connected to the mains, such as set-top boxes, Internet appliances and the like.

Chip maker Freescale last week sub-licensed PowerVR MBX Lite through Imagination licensee and mobile processor developer ARM. Indeed, that connection with ARM has helped Imagination become one of the leading suppliers of low-power graphics core technologies to device vendors. However, that leadership is increasingly being challenged by lesser-known players, such as Falanx and Bitboys, and established graphics chip makers Nvidia and ATI.